Signal-printing mechanism



Sept. 14 1926. 1,599,634

- F. W. BERNAU SIGNAL PRINTING MECflANISM Filed Jan. 12, 1925 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1' N0 K769 /9'1 A00 s l [-50 UPPER 0 I Tam. 4 l zifi LOWER lime-A7 JUB'TOTAL Immm I IIIIIHHII 1. svmam Sept. 14 1926.

, F. w. BERNAU smrm. PRINTING momuusm Filed Jan. 12 1925 3 Sheets-8hest 2 LOWE Amway UPPER 51 5 TOTAL PEPE/5 T OTAL.

W M w Sept. 14 1926. 1,599,634

" I F. w. BERNAU I SIGNAL PRINTING nmcpmmsu Filed Jan. 12, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. BERNAU, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 ELLIS ADDING TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, 01' NEWARK, N EW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

sIGNAL-rnm rInG MECHANISM.

Application filed January 12, 1925, Serial No. 1.893i

This invention relates to improved signal printing mechanlsm for addlng, hstmg.

bookkeeping, or other machines which me chanically perform calculation.

Signal printers, for machines of this character become necessary for the purpose of distinguishing totals, sub-totals, items which are listed but not added and to distinguish the totals and sub-totals on different accumulators where a plurality of accumulators are provided in themachine, and for other pur poses. x"

The well known Ellis printing calculating machine has heretofore operated its signal printer by mechanism cooperatively associated with the ,accumulating mechanism, or, with the different accumulating "mechanisms if more than one accumulating mechanism is used.

Instances of such mechanism appear in patents granted to Halcolm Ellis, No. 1,065,792, June 24, 1913, total signal device, and to me, N 0. 1,508,267, Septembert), '1 924. overdraft key locking and indicating mechanism for calculating machines.

My object is to provide, first, improved signal printing mechanism; second, a signal printing mechanism which is manually set by the operation of the respective controlling keys, there being such coordination between the keys and the mechanism which sets the signal printer that when a control ling key is set the signal printer mechanism will be arranged or set sothat when printing occurs, on the subsequent operation of the machine. the appropriate signal or symbol corresponding to the set operating key will be printed: third, to provide improved mechanism combined with the signal printing mechanism and the'operating or controlling keys in such manner that the different operating or controlling keys will shift the intermediate mechanism to different degrees or extents to permit difi'erent extents of movement of the signal printer when the machine is operatedg'fourth, to provide improved mechanism' for' controlling the setting of the signal printer by the operating. or controlling keys which will serve as a block-out or interlock to prevent the depression of more than one operating key at a time; fifth, to provide improved signal controlling mechanism which will be wholly independent of the accumulator or accumurelationship to the operating keys and printing mechanism thereof, particularly when read in connection with the aforesaid patents and others granted to Halcolm Ellis as follows: No. 1,197,276, September 5, 1916, combined adding machine and typewriter; X0. 1.203.863, November 7, 1916, mechanical calculator.

It is to be understood, however, that the present improvements and principles involved therein are not, necessarily, restricted to embodiment in mechanism similar to the Ellis machine, as these improvements may be used in other printing calculating machines, and the claims are to be understood as covering any improvements involving the principles of, the invention in whatever printing calculating machine they may be employed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the left hand side of the Ellis machine showing the improved operating and interlocking slide bar with which the controlling or operating keys cooperate, the various latches and other mechanisms employed in the Ellis machine being omitted for the sake of clearness, the

"parts being in normal position;

Fig. 2 IS a similar view, the lower sub total key being depressed and the slide having been shifted thereby;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the signal controlling and operating mechanism on the right hand side .of the machine, the parts being in the normal positionthey assume when the controlling keys and slide are in the normal positionfshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view. the parts being arranged for printing the signal corresponding to the lower sub-total key when the latter has been set-as shown in Fig. 2 and after the machine'has been started on its cycle of movement Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of certain parts of the mechanismfor setting the printin sector;

ig. 6 is a ing sector;

Fig. 7 comprises detail views of the type heads;

Fig. 8 is a detailview of the faces of the symbol types; and

Fig. 9 is,a detail rear end elevation of the slide, its channel guide, and one of the keys of .Fig. 1.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the top plate through which the keys project appears at K50. The lower part of the machine frame is provided with a channel piece 1, Fig. 9, into which the lower ends of the controlling keys are adapted to slide as they are guided by this channel guide 1 and by the top plate K50.

The usual controlling or operating keys of detail section through the printthe Ellis machine are shown at K61, K62,

K63, K64, K66, K67, K69. being, respectively, the error key, repeat key, total key for lower accumulator, sub-total key for lower accumulator, total key for upper accumula? tor, sub-total key for upper accumulator and the non-add key.

Reference is to be had to Ellis patents heretofore set forth for latches for holding depressed those keys of this series which it is advantageous, or desirable, to retain in set position until the machine has performed its cycle of operations. The said Ellis patents also disclose various other mechanisms found on the left side of the machine which cooperate with the controlling keys aforesaid and with other mechanisms of the machine. All of these latches, levers, connecting pieces and other mechanisms are omitted for the sake of clearness as the present invention bears no relationship to them.

The different keys are provided with resetting springs for causing them to snap upwardly when they are released.

Slidable in the channel piece 1 is a signalmechanism-setting, and key-interlocking, bar 2 which is guided by depending projections 2 received in slots-in the lower part of the guide 1. I

The slide bar 2 is provided with notches 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, to receive the lower ends of the stems. of keys K63, K64, K66, K67, K69, respectively, after these keys are depressed. For'instance, in Fig. 2 the lower sub-total key K64 has been depressed and it will be seen that its lower end has entered the notch 101. When any one of the operating keys has thus been depressed, the resulting engagement of the lower end of the' key stem with the notch for that stem, positively locks the slide bar 2 so that it is impossible to depress any of the remaining operating keys and thus an interlock is provided between the keys.

The error and repeat keys K61, K62, do not cooperate with the slide bar 2.

To enable the slide bar 2 to be shifted when one of the keys K63, K64, K66. K67, K69, is depressed, said bar is provided with a series of cam surfaces 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, which are arranged, respectively, immediately under the lower ends of the key stems when the parts are in normal position as shown in Fig. 1; Consequently, on the depression of any key of the series K63, K64, K66, K67, K69, there will be exerted a camming action between the depressed key and the cam or bevel surfaces 105, 106, etc., whereby the slide bar 2 will be moved toward the left, Fig. 1, until the lower end of the key stem registers with the notch 100, 101, etc.; thereupon, the key holds the bar 2 in a position which blocks the remaining key stems so that they cannot be depressed.

The cam surfaces 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, are arranged vernier fashion, that is, of different angles and relationships to the lower endsof the key stems so that depression of an one of the controlling keys will result in ifi'erent extent of travel of the bar 2 than will be obtained by depression of any other key of the series. As shown, depression of the key K63 will move the bar 2 to the left a lesser distance than will be accomplished when key K64 is depressed. Similarly, depresslon of key K66 will move the bar 2 a greater distance than it will be moved by key K64, and so on.

This principle is utilized to set a vernier slide 12, Figs. 3 and 4, toward the right, in said figures, different distances so that thelug 50 on a pivoted controlling arm 14 may rise to properly set the signal printing sector P54 to adapt said sector to print a symbol corresponding to thedepressed controlling key, when the machine is subsequently put through its cycle of operations as shown, for instance, in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 4 the vernier slide has been set by the depression of key K64, as shown in Fig. 2, such a distance that when the paper feed lever P74 moves downwardly from the normal position of Fig. 3 to the position of Fig. 4 when the machine is operated, the controlling arm 14 will be pulled upwardly by spring 16 until arrested by the proper step or shoulder of the vernier arrangement on slide 12 to position the printing sector P54 so that a symbol corresponding to the function of the machine controlled by key K64 will be printed.

\s shown in Fig. 2, thesymbol adopted to indicate that the printed item identified is a sub-total taken from the lower accumulator, such symbol being S.

The operative connections between the slide bar 2 and the vernier, or portable, slide 12 are as follows: The bar 2 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 2". A shaft L1 which i's-journaled in bearings F of the main frame of the machine, is provided at its left hand end with a crank 5. to the crank 5 'on a pin 6 is a connecting link 1 which is also pivoted at 3to"the arm 2". On the right hand end of shaft L1 a crank 7. A spring 150 connected to the bearing 1 and :to the hub of crank '7 tends to turn the shaft L1 to normally cause the slide bar 2 to be held in the posftion shown in Fig. 1 with its lug 2 engaged with the left hand end of the channel member 1. The spring 150 also holds the variable vernier slide 12 normally in the position shown in Fig. 3. To accomplish this purpose the crank 7 is provided with a pin 8 which is re.eived in a'slot at the lower end of a bell crank lever 9 which is pivoted at 10 to the side frame 160 of the printing section. The upper end of hell crank lever 9 is pivoted at 11 to the forward'end of the variable vernier. slide 12. The vernier slide 12 has a slot 17 in its rear part whiclrlooselv receives a pin 13.carried by the side frame 160, thus supporting the slide 12 sov that it may be moved rearwardly as shown in Fig. 1.

The slide 12 has a series of steps or shoulders 120, 121, 122, 123. 121, wlnch, accord' ing to the setting of the slide 12 rearwardly, selectively determine how far the lug 50 of the controlling arm 11 will be permitted to rise when the machine is put through its cycle of 0perations.- 'As previously described,the setting of the slide 12 is dependent upon the operation of the controlling keys'K63, K64, etc. For instance, in Fig. -l the slide 12 has been set. by the depression of key K61 and, hence. when the machine is operated the controlling arm 14 will rise, until arrested by shoulder 122, when the right hand end of moves downwardly. I

Normallv, the .paper feed lever P74 of the Ellis machine is in the positionshown in Fig. 3. Therefore, when a controlling key is set, for instance key K64, while the shaft L1 is rocked against the action of spring 150 and the bell crank lever 9 is turned to move the slide 12 rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4, nevertheless as the paper feed lever P71 is not shifted until ata certain time when the machine is put through its cycle of operations, the restoring fork 20 which is pivoted at 21 to the controlling arm 11 isiblocked and, hence, the spring 16 cannot turn the controlling arm 14 on its pivot 15 but when the paper feed lever P74 moves downwardly-as shown in Fig. at, the pin Pl carried'by the paper feed lever is moved in the slotted end of the restoring fork 20 so that the said fork is freed and the spring 16 may then turn the controlling arm 11 as far as will be permitted before the lug 50 will be arrested by Pivoted paper feed lever P71 one of the steps or shoulders of the series 120, 121, etc.

hen the machine is set to perform addition, the operating keys are as shown in Fig. 1 and the slide 12 is arranged as shown in Fig. 3. This results in the shoulder 120, by its engagement with the lug 50, holding the controlling arm 11 in its retracted position. Consequently the printing sector P51 is held in a non-print position and a releasing pawl 17 which is pivoted to the controls ling arm 11 at 18. is held in its retracted position. The releasing pawl 17 is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, being pulled upwardly by a spring 19 so thatthe left hand end of the releasing pawl 17 bears against the release dog 63F whose purpose is explained in the Ellis patents.

As explained in the Ellis patents heretofore referred to. the printing arm 511 of the signal printer carries the printing sector P51 of the signal printer which is pivoted thereto at P101 The signal printer sector P51 is set by the link 22 which is pivoted thereto at P10 and pivoted to. the controlling arm 11 at 110 so that the printing sector P51 will be set accordin to the setting of the controlling arm 14.

hen the machine is put through its cycle of operations to Pint the item, whatever it may he. the releasing pawl 17 moves tothe position shown in Fig. 1, thereby causing the release dog 631 to move through an angle of about ten degrees on its pivot. This will cause certain mechanism to become disengaged from. the printing arm 54F. The purpose of making the controlling arm 1 1. and the releasing pawl 17 flexible in relation to each other bv the use of the spring 19, is to permit the controlling arm 14 to continue its upward movementfaccording to the setting of the slide 12, after the releasing pawl 17 has moved .sufficiently to cause the release dog 63F to accomplish therelease of the printing arm 511: were there" no flexible connection between the pawl 17 and the arm 14, the arm 14 could not continue its movement'to the desired extent, beyond a certain point, under the control of spring 16.

The signal printing sector may be made as a single stamping of the cross sectional shape shown in Fig. 6 and of the outline appearing in Figs. 3 and at. The sector is provided with fingers 170 of the necessary number to carry the printing type appearmg in Figs, I and 8, according to the number of symbols desired for the controlling keys K63, K61. etc.. machine. The fingers 170 are provided with bowed parts 171.

which are used on the i By using fingerssuch as shown and desions on the paper on the platen P will result. Beside this, the use of the bowed parts 171 affords a cushioning action when the impression is made onthe paper.

Any desired symbols may be used, those shown in Fig. 8 being at present preferred. These symbols are in the form of type 180 which are carried by heads or caps P55 of split construction which straddle the fingers 170 and are soldered or otherwise suitably secured to them. Y

By providing separate fingers 170 on the signal printing sector, any desired series of combination of symbol type may be provided, thus avoiding the necessity of using a series of symbol type cast en bloc, as previously proposed.

I claim:

1. In a calculating machine, the combination with a signal indicator adapted to be set to different positions, of a plurality of operating keys adapted for controllingdifterent functions of the machine, a combined actuator and key interlock which is common to the operating keys and adapted to be set to different degrees or extents by them, when said keys are set, said actuator locking the unset keys to prevent operation thereof after one of said keys has been set and mechanism interposed between said actuator and the signal-indicator by which the signal indicator is adapted to be set in a dilterent position.

2. In acalcula-ting machine, the combination with a plurality of operating keys adapted for controlling difierent functions of the machine, of a slide having notches and cams leading to said notches, arranged of vernier fashion and adapted for cooperation with aforesaid keys, whereby when one of said keys is operated, the action of the operated key on one of the -cams moves said slide to a position in which it will prevent operation of the remaining keys, a signal printer, and mechanism interposed between the signal printer and the slideby which the setting and locking of said signal printer is predetermined by the position ot the slide as set by the operation of a key.

3. In a calculating machine, the combinnation wit-h a plurality of operating keys adapted for controlling different functions of the machine, of a slide having notches and cams leading to said notches, arranged of vernier fashion and adapted for cooperation with aforesaid keys. whereby when one of said keys is operated, the action of the operated key on one of the cams moves said slide to a position in which it will prevent operation of the remaining keys, a. slide having a plurality of stops, operative connections between said last named slide and the vernier slide, a signal printer, -and mechanism brought into action when the machine is put through its cycle of operations which determines the setting of the signal printer by the arrest of said mechanism by one of said stops, determined by the setting of said stop slide.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FREDERICK W. BERNAU. 

